Such Power is Dangerous

by Dennis Wheatley

  The knowledge that she would at least be certain now of seeing Nelson next day, comforted her considerably, so she took one-half of the doctor’s sleeping-draught—and since he was one of those capable practitioners who do not hesitate to use drugs freely when they are really necessary—she was soon asleep.

  In the morning she had the ordeal of the funeral to go through and was utterly miserable and depressed by the time Mr. Drefus called for her after lunch in his large car. She found him to be a very different type of man to the elderly Mr. Ledger, or the young and self-satisfied Mr. Style. He was a shrewd-looking Jew, very polished, and in a quiet way very certain of himself.

  On the way to Brixton, he impressed her very favourably. It was obvious that he was used to handling really important matters and had a wide knowledge of legal affairs. He told her at once that the case was a difficult and unusual one, but he felt that the very fact of its unusual features might be turned to good account. In the first place he had already taken steps to delay Nelson’s extradition to America. International law, he told her, was a very curious thing. Under certain circumstances, the country in which the suspected person was arrested could detain that person. If, for example, he were subpœnaed as a witness to another murder in that country. There had been no murder which they could utilise for this purpose, but there had been attempted murder and arson, in the affair of the burnt Studio at Frensham, the watchmen had been left to burn alive.

  ‘But,’ said Avril, ‘although we are convinced ourselves that Hinckman was responsible, we can’t prove it, we haven’t got the slightest evidence.’

  ‘I agree,’ replied Mr. Drefus. ‘But this is a matter of legal tactics, we shall bring a case just the same. There is the question of the drugged beer, we hope to trace the persons from whom the watchmen procured that. Other things may come to light, but even if we lose, as I expect we shall, it enables us to detain Druce in England as an important witness. In the meantime we shall set to work in the States. Mick Downey has not been executed yet. The defence in his case are creating the usual delays. If we can get at him, we might induce him to speak, or give us a letter to the effect that Donelli was concerned with him in the murder of Druce’s father. That would strengthen our hand considerably. As I see it, our best line is to bring Hinckman and the machinations of the Combine into the limelight as much as possible. I hope to stir public opinion in America into such a state of indignation that sympathy for Druce will enable me to get him off with the minimum sentence. If we bring a case against Hinckman for attempted murder here in England, that should go a great way to bring public opprobrium upon him.’

  Avril was greatly cheered. Mr. Drefus was evidently no hide-bound lawyer of the old school. He possessed brains and intelligence. She felt that Nelson could not have a better man to act for him.

  At Brixton Prison, after the usual formalities had been gone through, Mr. Drefus and Avril were led into a small room with a waist-high partition at one side, above which was a wire grille; beyond was a space about six feet wide in which a warder sat with folded arms upon a wooden chair. Beyond the warder was a second partition and wire grille. After they had waited for a few minutes, Nelson was led in upon the far side of the further partition, so that conversation had to take place through the two screens of wire and across the intervening six feet of space.

  He looked tired and worn, Avril thought, but that she knew was partly the accumulated strain of the last two months. He smiled when he saw her. ‘Nice of you to come.’ he said.

  ‘I would have come yesterday if I could.’ She felt how totally inadequate these remarks were on either side to express their real feelings.

  ‘Drefus’ll have told you,’ he went on, ‘what he figures to do.’

  She nodded. ‘Yes. I do hope that he will be able to stop them taking you out of England. Are they—are they being decent to you?’

  ‘Yes, thanks, they’ve made me as comfortable as can be expected. Did you have a bad time?’

  ‘No, they were quite kind, and I was only kept at Holloway for one night.’

  ‘Well, I’m real glad about that.’

  ‘Oh, Nelson,’ she burst out, ‘I’m not. I wish to God I were there still. Why did you do it?’

  He smiled. ‘I guess there weren’t no other way. That was plain from the start. Have you got busy on the film yet?’

  ‘The film?—my dear, I haven’t given it a thought, I’ve been too wretched. Besides, what’s the use—now?’

  ‘You’re not going to let them get away with it, are you, just ‘cause they’ve got me down?’

  For the moment she wanted to burst into tears. What a man he was! A charge of murder hanging over him, a long sentence of imprisonment at the very least, yet he still wanted to carry on the war. She controlled her impulse and tried to smile. ‘Do you think I can do it on my own? I was counting on you for the production—but I’ll do just what you wish.’

  ‘That’s fine, I knew you would. We’ll beat ‘em yet. An’ you can make it. Why not?—you’ve got Titchcock, an’ he’s a great guy. Get him to scrap the film he’s making at the present time, you’ve worked under him before and you couldn’t have a better man. Pull if off for me, Avril. I want you to.’

  ‘All right—I will. I’ll go straight down and see him at Hatfield when I leave here.’

  ‘That’s great of you—and I guess I know just what you’re feeling, but work’ll take your mind off things. Drefus has got the names of the others in the cast. He’ll put you wise to them.’

  ‘I’ll try and make a start tomorrow then, but time is slipping away so terribly, we’ve only got eighteen days. I shall never be able to do it in a fortnight if I come up and down to see you every day.’

  He shook his head. ‘I don’t want you to, and you know well enough it’s not because I wouldn’t look forward to your visits. I’ll feel you’re safe at Hatfield, with those Yard men looking after you. I’d be scared stiff if I thought you were coming up and down to London. Hinckman ’ud sure try and wreck your car or some swine trick once they learn you’re busy on that film—an’ these sort of interviews with us both in a cage’ll sure only serve to make us more miserable anyway.’

  ‘Yes, that’s true,’ Avril admitted. ‘I won’t come again, then, until I’ve finished making your film.’

  ‘That’ll be best, I’ll have a quiet mind then about your safety. I guess it was a good thing that you went to Scotland Yard day before yesterday. The fact that you told your story before Drefus set the ball rolling about the fire’ll help me a whole heap.’

  ‘Will they let me have the cameras? They are still in your room at the Dorchester, aren’t they?’

  ‘Yes, Drefus has got a letter I signed yesterday about that, they are to deliver them to his order. There’s another thing—about the “Z” Projector.’

  ‘Yes—what is it?’

  ‘Well, I’ve been thinking about that a lot. Just supposin’ anything goes wrong, that’ll fall in to my estate as things are, an’ I don’t want that. I want you to have it.’

  ‘Oh, Nelson—my dear—don’t let’s think about such awful things.’

  He smiled ruefully. ‘I guess we got to, besides, if you can get out the film, exhibit it, I mean, in time, I can’t tackle the business of floating the projector on the market from behind the bars here—but you can. Drefus’ll help you. Then you can pay off Issey Vandelstein for me, an’ we’ll have that rotten Combine beaten yet.’

  ‘I see. Well, if you wish me to hold it in trust for you, I will.’

  ‘No, I’m making it over to you absolutely. If the film breaks down, and Vandelstein closes up on me, you’ll still have that as the big card. It’ll save Hatfield for you, because the Combine won’t be able to compete. They can cut their prices to blazes, but your films will be a special thing, standing alone, you’ll be in a similar position to Star Artists, and if need be you can take theatres to exhibit, run your own publicity end too. You won’t be able to break them, but it’ll be stalemate, and
after a time they’ll leave you to play on your own.’

  Avril felt the tears starting to her eyes again, but she checked them with an effort, and said softly: ‘Oh, Nelson, you have been marvellous to think out all this in prison. You shouldn’t have worried to think of me.’

  ‘What else should I think of?’ he said abruptly. ‘Let’s get busy or they’ll be turning you out. Have you got the papers there, Drefus?’

  The lawyer produced a deed from his bag. It was a short agreement in which all rights, patents, and plans—for the manufacture, use, or sale of the ‘Z’ Projector were made over to Avril Bamborough. He read it through, it was then taken round to Nelson’s side of the barrier, where it was duly signed and witnessed.

  The warder, who had remained seated throughout the interview, and apparently deaf and dumb, now rose to his feet.

  ‘I’m afraid your time’s up, miss.’

  Nelson smiled a farewell. ‘So long, my dear, don’t worry too much about me. And good luck with the film.’

  Avril was really crying now, she could not keep her tears back any longer and they rolled silently down her cheeks as she pressed her face to the wire.

  ‘Nelson,’ she whispered ‘you know what I said the other night—I mean about Vitelma?’

  ‘Sure—I remember.’

  ‘Well, whatever she says—I’ll do just as you wish—and—and—I’ll wait for you till you come out.’

  He shook his head slowly, but the worn look seemed to drop from his face. ‘Vitelma’ll set me free anyhow now,’ he said. ‘You can bet on that, but I guess I wouldn’t ask you to wait, I’ll be an old man before I’m through with this. You’ll just remain my most precious memory.’

  Mr. Drefus led her weeping from the cell. In his car he tried to comfort her as he ran her back to London. After a little she stopped crying, but her face took on a set, hard look. She felt that work, relentless, determined work was the only thing left for her now. Long hours of unremitting labour, that Nelson’s film might be done in time.

  At her flat she forced herself to eat some sandwiches and swallow a glass of champagne, then directly her bags were packed she set off for Hatfield.

  Outside the Studio gates stood a newsvendor selling evening papers. He carried a placard that caught her eye. It read:

  VITELMA LOVEDAY SAILS FOR LONDON SAYS SHE WILL SAVE HER LOVER

  Lord Gavin Fortescue’s tight mouth creased into a satisfied smile as he studied a copy of that same paper, in his room at Claridge’s. He was well pleased with the result of the second long cable which he had despatched to his agent for transmission to Vitelma, when he had received news of Nelson Druce’s voluntary surrender two nights before.

  20

  Vitelma Loveday takes a Hand

  Hinckman’s cigar had gone out, but he did not re-light it or take another. He chewed and gnawed at the end he held between his teeth while he strode restlessly up and down.

  Lord Gavin sat hunched in his arm-chair, his small fingers playing a light tattoo upon the table at his side.

  ‘You seem worried, my friend,’ he said softly.

  Hinckman came to a sudden halt, and swinging round faced the little man. ‘Waal!’ he snapped, ‘I guess you wouldn’t be sitting so pretty if you had a charge of complicity in attempted murder up against you. We’re in England, too, remember—they treat these things different to what we do back home—the fools don’t understand who I am.’

  Lord Gavin shrugged his frail shoulders. ‘My dear man, surely you are not worried about that, you know quite well that they will never be able to bring home this charge against you. It is only an excuse for postponing Druce’s deportation.’

  ‘I know, I know, but take a look at the news sheets. It’s not the English ones I mind, it’s those rags in the States. They’re making a regular hoo-ha ‘bout the Combine. Talk of invoking the anti-trust laws an’ hell knows what. That don’t suit our book at all.’

  ‘Your fears are quite unfounded, Hinckman. You may rest assured that my legal advisers went very carefully into the question of the anti-trust laws before I sailed for the States, and they are not apt to make mistakes.’

  ‘Maybe, but what about me—these guys are slinging all the mud they know. That don’t do no good to a man in my position. They’re saying I’m every sort of Bolshevik unhung. I’ve cabled my attorneys to sue one sheet for libel.’

  ‘Then you have acted very unwisely. You will call more attention to those very matters which you wish to keep quiet. This sort of thing is unpleasant for you at the moment, of course. It is a clever move on the part of Drefus & Drefus to stir the Press up in order to get public sympathy for young Druce, but it will blow over, particularly when he is released.’

  ‘You figure the girl will play?’

  ‘Certainly she will—providing Vitelma Loveday is properly coached. How did she take it when you talked the matter over with her last night?’

  ‘So, so. I met her off the boat-train and dined her at the Carlton, but she’s that thick-headed I could have hit her, that’s why I figured it ‘ud be best for you to put her wise today.’

  ‘Have you any further news from Hatfield?’

  ‘Nope. I guess the kid’s pretty near through with her film, but there’s nothing fresh.’

  ‘Is there no possible means of wrecking it?’

  ‘Not a hope, she’s got every sort of protection short of the military—my birds can’t get near the place.’

  ‘Well, after all what does it matter if she does make her film as long as we secure the projector?’

  ‘That’s so—all the same, I wish Druce had never invented the darned thing. You can bet it’s rumours ‘bout that keeps Issey sitting on the fence. If he wasn’t sitting tight to hear what comes of the “Z” he’d have been in our pocket a month back, an’ the Combine floated by this time.’

  ‘My dear Hinckman, what you say is perfectly true, but the fact remains that Druce did invent this thing, and it is actually in operation. It is vitally necessary therefore that we should obtain possession of the patent. Let us be thankful that we ascertained through the young man in Drefus’s office that he had made it over to the girl. At least we know where we are, and with this woman Loveday’s help I am certain we shall get it. Once we have that our battle is won.’

  ‘Sure—an’ I’ll say it was a mighty fine idea of yours to get the Loveday over. The Bamborough kid would never have trusted me in the deal.’

  The house telephone at Lord Gavin’s side tinkled. He picked it up quickly. ‘Yes, yes, certainly—show her up at once.’ He replaced the receiver. ‘That is Miss Loveday,’ he added to Hinckman.

  ‘O.K., you’d best do most of the talking, I said my piece last night.’

  Lord Gavin nodded. ‘I think I shall be able to persuade her of her own best interests,’ he said softly.

  A minute afterwards a page showed Vitelma into Lord Gavin’s room. The voyage had done her good, and she was looking if possible more lovely than ever.

  ‘Say, kid, you’re lookin’ fine,’ Hinckman greeted her. ‘Meet Lord Gavin Fortescue.’

  Vitelma put out her slender hand and smiled her well-advertised smile, although for the moment she was a little taken aback by the strange ill-proportioned figure of Lord Gavin. His body seemed so tiny compared to his massive head, but as his pale eyes bored into Vitelma’s she felt at once the force of his personality.

  He bowed her to a chair and began at once. ‘Miss Loveday, I cannot say how deeply I feel for you in your terrible situation, it is most gallant of you to have come all the way to England in the hope of getting your fiancé released.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Vitelma. ‘It’s just awful, an’ I haven’t figured yet just what I can do. It was friends in Hollywood put me up to makin’ that statement to the Press. I reckon they thought it ’ud be good publicity.’

  ‘Of course.’ Lord Gavin smiled—he knew perfectly well who had advised her, they had acted on his instructions. ‘I feel sure, however,’ he went on
smoothly, ‘that now you are here, you would wish to do everything in your power.’

  ‘I’ll say I do. Isn’t he my fiancé?’

  ‘Certainly, and we wish to help you. Now on the night of the crime, I understand that you visited Druce’s home, but you did not find him there?’

  ‘That’s so.’

  ‘But when you were a few hundred yards down the road on your way back to Hollywood, you recognised his car, and you stopped your own.’

  ‘Oh, no. I didn’t do that.’

  ‘No, of that I am aware. In actual fact you drove out to a road house about twenty miles distant and spent the evening dancing.’

  Vitelma’s blue eyes opened wide. ‘Now how in the world would you know that?’

  Lord Gavin smiled. ‘No matter. It happens that I do know. Now let us go back a little. Had you met Nelson Druce on the road what would you have done?’

  ‘How can I say? Maybe we’d have spent the evening at the Druce home. Maybe I’d have taken him dancing.’

  ‘Exactly. Now, nobody could blame a woman for telling a few untruths in order to save her lover’s life. I suggest, therefore, that you should tell the police that you met Druce and went with him to this road house. That will provide him with an alibi.’

  ‘Well, I’m certainly willing to say that—but will they believe me? What about the folks at the road house an’ the fellow I was dancing with most of all night?’

  ‘That,’ said Lord Gavin slowly, ‘is where we can assist you. Mr. Hinckman has been in communication with the young man you refer to—he is willing to swear that he danced with you once or twice, but that Nelson Druce brought you there and took you away again, and that Druce was with you most of the evening. We have also, what I believe you term “squared” the hall-porter and two of the waiters. The evidence of these people, in support of your own, should prove conclusive.’